Automobile hood



Feb. 27, 1923.

C. SCOTT AUTOMOBILE HOOD 2 sheets-sheet l Fil6d May 14, 1921 Feb. 27, 1923.

AUTOMOBILE HOOD Filed May 14, 1921 2 sheetssheet 2 551 Gum/mug C. m MLM dwwx.

Patented Feb. 27, 1923.

UNITED STATES CHRISTOPHER SCOTT, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

AUTOMOBILE HOOD.

Application filed May 14, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Cmusrornnn Soorrr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Hoods; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and. exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and use the same.

This invention relates to automobile hoods, and'particularly to articulating and locking means =,.for the panels thereof, whereby the latter may be firmly secured and held in.

position and readily disengaged therefrom when it becomes necessary to obtain access to the mechanism beneath the hood.

Numerous forms of articulating and looking devices have been heretofore proposed and used in connection with the hoods of automobiles. These devices have been more or less satisfactory, but all present defects of one kind or another which suggest the desirability of improved devices of this character. Many of the devices heretofore in use have been relatively expensive, involving a lar e number of small and intricate parts. ome permit rattling of the hood, owing to failureof the devices to properly function and many serve to disfigure the vehicle because they appear externally.

It is the primary1 object of the present invention to overco e the disadvantages of devices heretofore employed for a similar purpose and to provide articulating and fastening means for the hood panels, whereby thelatter may be secured without the usual latches or similar devices and permitting movement of the panels to open position with the application of the minimum of effort, the structure being so designed as to present a pleasing appearance.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means permitting the drainage of water which may enter the hood, thus preventing water from reaching the engine or other mechanism which is protected by the hood.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawings, 1n which- Fig. 1 is a. plan view of the hood.

Serial No. 469,595.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail in section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 illustrating the hinge.

Fig. etis a detail in section on the line 4-4 ofFig. 1 illustrating the device for balancing the Weight of the hood panels.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through i the hood on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is atransverse section through the hood illustrating a slightly different form of the invention, and

Fig. 7 is a similar view illustrating another form of the invention.

The present invention embodies a substitute for the usual tie-rod which connects the radiator to the dash-board of most autobiles, the novel tie-rod forming a part of the hinge whereby the hood panels are articulated, and belng provided with means to insure drainage of water which may enter between the panels. The invention embodies. further, 'an arrangement of the connection between the panels of the hood, whereby the latter are articulated in relatively movable relation. The lower panels are provided with flanges engaging corresponding flanges on the front fender hood sill. or corresponding part of the automobile structure, so that the-hood panels are firmly locked to insure the proper position.

The two panels forming each side of the hood are resiliently connected so that the flanges hereinbefore referred to may be readily disengaged. Preferably, springs are supported in the. tie-rod and bear upon the underside of the hood panels to assist in holding the latter firmly,-and particularly to hold the panels in raised position when access to the-mechanism is desired. Referring to the drawing. 5 and. 6 represent the radiator and dash-board respectively of a typical automobile, it being understood that the details of. the construction of these elements form no part of the present invention, which maybe applied to automobiles of widely varyingdesign. In place of the usual tie-rod, a hood-rest 7 is provided which may be constructed of sheet metal bent to provide depending legs ,8 and inwardly and upwardlydirected flangesB, as clearly indicated in the drawing. The hood rest is bolted or otherwise secured to the radiatorand dash-board of the vehicle. Uponings 10 are provided in the hood-rest 7 and a sprin I spring eing disposed in engagement with flanges 9 thereof to receive quadrants 11 which may be of any suitable cross-sectional shape, the openings being correspondingly formed. The quadrants are secured to the upper panels 12 of the hood and form in connection with the hood-rest 7 a hinge whereby the panels 12 may be swung upwardly to permit access to the mechanism. Depending lugs 13 on the under-side of the hood-rest 7 support a pin 14 about which 15 is coiled, the ends 16 of the the under-sides of. the upper panels 12. When the panels are in closed position, the spring is tensioned and thus has a tendency to force the panels upwardly. When the panels are-released as herein after described, the spring balances the weight thereof so that the panels may be readily lifted and the spring will hold the panels in their open position until the panels are moved against the tension of the spring to closed position.

At their lower edges, the upper panels 12 are provided with inturned portions 17 forming supports for pins 18 carrying depending bolts 19. The latter pass through suitable openings in flanges 20 formed by bending the upper edges of the lower panels 21 inwardly, and springs 22 surround the bolts 19 between the. flanges 20 and the heads 20' of the bolts so that the springs tend to lift the lower panels. At their lower edges the lower panels are provided with upwardly and inwardly turned flanges 23 adapted to engage the outwardly and downwardly turned flanges 24 on the front fender hood sill 25 or other correspondin part-of the automobile structure. The Tatter flanges may bereplaced by suitable slots cut, for ex ample, in the radiator hood ledge. As will be observed, the flanges 23 are held in close engagement with the flanges 24 under tension of the springs 22. The spring 15 also assists in maintaining the flanges 23 and 24 in close engagement and the springs may be so proportloned that the hood panels are firmly held and prevented from rattling un der the shocks incident to the travel of the vehicle.

The lower panels 21 are provided with handles 26, for example, which the operator may grasp when it is desired to swing the panels to their upper position. By pressing down upon the handles 26 the flanges 23 and 24 may be disengaged and may then be lifted with the assistance of the spring 15. As the panels are lifted, the quadrants 11 slide in the openings 10 1n the hood support as indicated in Fig. 3, and permit the panels to move to a position enabling the operator to obtain access to the mechanism.

While the. butt-joint between the upper and lowerpanels of the hood, as indicated in Fig. 2, is to be preferred in most cases, since it presents the most pleasing appearance,

the invention may be readily adapted to a construction permitting a lap-joint between the hood panels as indicated in Fig. 6. The on] distinctive features of this structure is t e bending of the upper hood panel upon itself at 27, whereby a depending flange is rovided-which overlaps the joint between t e upper and lower panels.

As will be observed by reference to Fig. 7, the bending of the upper hood panel upon itself may be such as to form a somewhat deeper flange 28, so that the lower panel does not engage the upper panel except as the latter overlaps the former. The mode of bendng the lower panel to form the flanges may also be varied as indicated in the drawing.

The structure as hereinbefore described entirely obviates the necessity for hinges of the usualtype and for complicated catches which frequently do not serve their intended purpose, and oftenmar the appearance of the car when disposed externally of the hood. The four panels of the hood can be constructed separately in accordance with the invention herein described and assembled on the car in a minimum of time. thus facilitating and correspondingly reducing the cost of manufacturt-ing automobiles embodying the invention. Any Water leaking into the hood is caught between the legs 8 and flanges 9 of the hood support and travels in the troughs thus formed to the lower end of the hood support where the water is discharged without contact with the'mechanism beneath the hood.

These and other advantages of the structure may be accomplished through employment of means substantially conformin to the structure herein described. It is to be understood, therefore, that various changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts without departing from the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

I claim':

1. A hood for automobiles, comprising in combination upper and lower panels, means for hingedly supporting the upper panels,

stationary means adapted to interlock with.

the free edges of the lower panels, and ar; ticulatlng means connecting the upper and lower panels and permitting movement of the lower panels in their respective planes relatively to the upper panels.

2. A hood for-automobiles, comprising in combination upper and lower panels, means for hingedly supporting the upper panels, stationary means adapted to interlock with the free edges of the lower panels, and articulating means resiliently connecting the upper and lower panels and permitting movement of the lower panels in their respective planes relatively to the upper panels.

3. A hood for automobiles, comprising in combination, upper and lower. panels, means for supporting the upper panels, stationary means, interlocking means on the lower panels adapted to cooperate with the stationary means, and resilient hinge connections tween the upper and lower panels permitting movement of the lower panels in their respective planes relatively to the upper panels.

4. A hood for automobiles, comprising in combination upper and lower panels, means for hingedly supporting the upper panels, stationary means, interlocking means on the lower panels adapted to cooperate with the stationary means, and resilient connections interposed between the upper and lower panelswhereby the interlocking means'are held in engagement with the stationary means.

-5. A hood for automobiles, comprising in combination upper and lower panels, articulating means therefor permitting movement of the lower panels in their respective planes relatively to the upper panels, means for supporting the panels, stationary means and interlocking means on the lower panels adapted to cooperate with the stationary means whereby the panels are held in closed position.

6. A hood for automobiles, comprising in combination upper and lower panels, articulating means t erefor including flanges on the panels, bolts pivotally connected to the flanges on the upper panels and extending through openings in the flanges on the lower panels, springs surrounding the bolts and engaging the flanges on the lower panels, stationary means and interlocking means on the lower panels adapted to cooperate with the stationary means, and held in engagement therewith by the springs.

7. A hood for automobiles, comprising in combination resiliently articulated upper and'lower panels, means for supporting the panels, stationary means, interlocking means on the lower panels adapted to cooperate with the stationary means to hold the panels in closed position, and means to balance the weight of the panels when the interlocking means is released. "8. A hood for automobiles, comprising in combination resiliently articulated upper and lower panels, means for supporting the panels, stationary means, interlocking means on the lower panels adapted to cooperate with the stationary means to hold the panels in closed position, and resilient means mounted on the supporting means for the panels and engaging therewith to balance the weight thereof whenthe interlocking means is released.

9. A hood for automobiles, comprising in combination resiliently articulated upper and lower panels, means for supporting the wardly directed flanges forming panels havin depending legs and inwardly and upwar y directed flanges forming troughs for drainage of water entering the hood, the supporting means having aligned panels, means for supporting the anels having depending legs and inward y and uptroughs for drainage of water entering t e hood, the supporting means having aligned openings, means secured to the upper panels and cooperating with the openings to permit movement of the panels relatively to the support, and means cooperating with the lower panels to hold the anels in closed position.

11. A hood or automobiles, comprising in combination upper and lower panels, means for supportin the panels having spaced members provided with-openings and quadrants secured to the upper panels disposed in the openin 5 whereby the panels are articulated with t e support, articulating means connecting the upper and lower panels and permitting movement of the lower panels in their res ective planes relatively to the upper pane sand interlocking means for holding the lower panels in closed position.

12. A hood for automobiles, comprising in combination articulated upper and lower panels, means-for supporting the panels consisting of sheetmetal bent to form depend-'.

ing legs and upwardly and inwardly directed flanges the supporting means having openings therein, and means secured to the upper panels and cooperating with the openings to permit movement of the panels relatively to the support.

13. A hood for automobiles, comprising in combination articulated ,upper and lower panels, means for supporting the panels hav-' ing spaced members provided with openings, 7

meanssecured to the upper panels and cooperating with the openings to permit movement of the panels relatively to the support,

means on the, support and engaging the upper panels to resiliently su port the panels,

and means interlocking wit the lower panels to hold the panels in closed position,

egg

15. A hood for automobiles, comprising in combination resiliently articulated upper and lower panels, means for supporting the panels having spaced members provided with openings, means secured to the upper panels and cooperating with the openings to permit movement of the panels relatively to the support, means on the support and engaging the upper panels to resiliently support the panels, and means interlocking with 10 the lower panels to hold the panels in closed position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHRISTOPHER SCUTT. 

